Home-grown Police Officer Prepares To Step Off His Beat

July 30, 1998|By ANGIE CHUANG; Courant Staff Writer

WETHERSFIELD — The rebellious 12-year-old from Hartford's South End cowered before an officer ``as big as a tree.'' The Hartford officer, a friend of the boy's exasperated mother, had driven the adolescent away in a police car, pretending to haul him to jail.

``That's just a sample of what you're going to get if you don't behave,'' Jim Stavola rememembers the officer telling him.

FOR THE RECORD - Correction published August 1, 1998.Wethersfield Police Chief John Karangekis grew up in Hartford. A story on Page B1 Thursday incorrectly reported the community where he was raised.

Stavola, now 51, not only took the words to heart, but was so impressed by the officer's authority and concern that he chose his career that day.

Now, after 30 years in the Wethersfield Police Department, he will retire on Friday from a long career of saving lives, facing tough realities and making friends in the community.

``Anything you could come up with, I've seen it in my time here,'' Stavola said. ``I've worked with an excellent police department and extremely dedicated men, met a lot of good people out there in the community, but I've also seen a lot of misery and hurt.''

Stavola moved with his family from Hartford's Franklin Avenue to Wethersfield in 1961, graduated from Wethersfield High School in 1966 and has lived in town ever since.

His colleagues say ``Officer Jimmy,'' as he is known in the community, is one of a dwindling breed of home-grown police officers. Chief John Karangekis, who also grew up in Wethersfield, said the department used to have a residency requirement, but increasingly sees new recruits come from out of town and even out of state.

Stavola's investment in the community and its people paid off, Karangekis said.

``He could take police action against someone on the road and by the time he got through, that person would smile, thank him and write a letter to me telling me how much they appreciated his courteousness,'' Karangekis said.

At the same time, ``he could take forceful action if he needed to. He was able to defuse volatile situations.''

Once, Stavola disarmed a rifle- wielding man, drawing his weapon and telling the man to drop his gun.

``He handled that situation without incident just by being Jimmy,'' recalled Lt. Ken Monde. Stavola had a way with people, whether they were residents he was assisting or longtime criminals, Monde said.

Stavola said his most gratifying experience as an officer occurred about a decade ago, when he saved a man's life by giving him cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A CPR instructor, Stavola happened to be near a Broad Street home when the resident went into cardiac arrest. Stavola administered CPR during the critical minutes after the man's heart stopped. He received awards from the American Red Cross and the Greater Hartford Jaycees for his heroism.

Not surprisingly, the experience sealed Stavola's dedication to teaching CPR. Three years ago, he transferred from the patrol division to support services, where he trains officers in essential procedures, including CPR.

Lt. Mark Hafner said Stavola was teaching by example before it became part of his job description.

``Jimmy was the first to do community policing long before the phrase was coined,'' said Hafner, who oversees the department's formal community policing initiative. ``Everyone in the community knows Jimmy. Younger officers look up to the way he treats people but is still able to enforce the law.''

Stavola said he is looking forward to passing the reins to the department's younger officers, many of whom he trained. But in an age of increasing violence and disrespect for police, Stavola said he believes the younger officers will have a tougher job than he did.

Still, he said, he'll miss his work.

``It will be hard to walk out that door,'' Stavola said. ``I'll come back, but I'll never walk through it again as a policeman.''